I don't even know where to begin, but to say after growing up there in my teen years and to finally get to go back and hunt these elk...A dream come true! It didn't dissapoint from day one on...Meeting Don and 'Jack' was a hoot and yes, 'he know's elk'...It was great knowing I had someone there that could find me if I needed anything and he was there! Even if not around, he made sure I stayed in touch, just so he knew where I might be...That was a great relief, not only to me, but my family and friends, knowing I had someone close by if needed...

Thank you again Don!

Not only Don, but Dave Figueroa...They let me hunt and do my thing with the piece of mind, knowing that if I needed 'em they'd be there and they were!

From day one, I was into Elk and saw Bulls every day...I'd set a goal for my self and said I'd chase big Bulls the first seven (7) days of the hunt and then on day eight (8) it would be gloves off on any Tule Bull...Physically, not a tough hunt although it was to me just because of injuries I've sustained in the past and I had to pace myself as a result...Mentally an ass kicker! Just because you 'see' big Bulls does not mean you will 'kill' big bulls!

How 600# animals can disapear is beyond me, but they'd do just that and it frustraited the hell out of me the first few days...Don would be close by hunting Doves and I'd come out all PO'd and he'd just laugh and tell me to have patience and think when in there...

Then it clicked! Not only did I start finding them, but in a big way and from then on, game on...

When it clicked I could find Bulls everyday and for the most part be in a shooting position on them...They just may not be the 'big' ones....Spikes were a crack up and the 'smaller' Bulls were ones I'd seen and photographed during a scouting trip, however I wasn't at the eight (8) day mark yet...They were all nice branch antlered bulls, just not of this caliber....

Fast forward to day eight (8), Saturday....Again into Bulls and this time I went in with the mind-set, shoot one if given a chance! However early, I heard one Bull keep bugling to the North and I had to go look... A stud to say the least and he'd taken the 20+ cows from this guy! This Bull I'd seen many times and every time he was in there harrassing and staying close to the big Bulls no matter the size...He was a fighter!

I move to get in position at a fence crossing I know of and it's to late, they beat me and head North towards another open field...I close and dog behind them trying to stay in striking distance until finally running out of cover...They're out there at 75/80 yards and I have a mound of sage with a small depression to get behind...Cow calls were usless and a good friend had told be to ditch them and just scream at 'em on the bugle...At this time the bigger Herd Bull was amongst the girls as usual and the Satelite standing in the shade close by...Note that tree!

I just open up with the Bugle and all hell breaks loose...Both Bulls scream back another bugle and some cow's break and head my way, that did it! I had a shooting lane and was already at full draw saying the first 'antlered' Bull gets it if he steps into the lane...Here he comes as I see antlers approaching, quartered to I put it tight behind the shoulder and thump him...Hit hard, he returns to the herd with the cow's watching him, head hung low...Then moves to the tree and shade...He lays down and the whole herd moves to surround him...Trying to stand once, he goes right back down...

I just lay there in the sun, heat dust and sage and soaked it all in...I had 'my' Tule Bull!!! Finally the herd moved off and I and i glassed to see and make sure his head was down before making my approach...As I was approaching I thought I saw his chest still rising and falling and sent in a insurance and finishing arrow, although it wasn't needed...Here he is!

I apologize for the field photo's...I'd ditched my tripod for 'water' space and at 1100 it was already hot...I wasn't going to lose meat for pictures!

I did find a picture of the Bull I shot from July on my scouting trip...He was a 7X6 on the 12th and when I shot him on the 15th he was a 5X6...Told you he was a fighter!